Pages

Friday, January 18, 2013

Heat 7:Lagunitas (Petaluma), R1H7, $7.99/6-pack, 6.2% ABV, 16.55 NSP, 3 (Andy, Brent, Samer)Coronado Islander (San Diego), R2H7, $10.49/6-pack, 7.0% ABV, 14.21 NSP, 2 (Brendan, Matt)Lagunitas advances, but not without some bumps and bruises provided by a game challenger in Islander. Lagunitas wins due to its slightly lighter body. Probably the closest heat of Round 3.Heat 8:Alpine Duet (Alpine), R1H8, $7.99/22oz, 7.0% ABV, 5.69 NSP, 4 (Brendan, Brent, Matt, Samer)Black Diamond Jagged Edge (Concord), R2H5, $8.89/6-pack, 7.3% ABV, 17.51 NSP, 1 (Andy)Andy...well, I'm not really sure what he was drinking. Maybe a bird flew by and took a shit in his Duet glass when he wasn't looking. Because this one wasn't even remotely close to anyone else. As you might imagine, Andy took a bit of ribbing when the results were revealed to the judges, and please feel free to add your own mockery in the comments (with all due respect to Jagged Edge).Heat 9:North Coast Acme (Fort Bragg), R1H9, $9.59/6-pack, 6.9% ABV, 15.33 NSPBallast Point Sculpin (San Diego), R2H11, $14.99/6-pack, 7.0% ABV, 9.45 NSP, 5-0The fastest verdict of Round 3, with Samer, Matt, and Andy picking Sculpin in roughly 0.2 seconds based solely on the smell. Shows the difference that freshness can make- Sculpin transformed from unremarkable in Round 1 to delicious in Rounds 2 and 3.Heat 10:Marin (Larkspur), R1H10, $4.99/22oz, 7.0% ABV, 9.12 NSPKern River Just Outstanding (Kernville), R2H10, $4.99/22oz, 6.8% ABV, 8.86 NSP, 5-0Whoops, an inadvertent rematch from Round 1. But these things can happen when there's this many beers to keep organized. Anyway, another quick heat, with the results reversed from Round 1. Kern's pineapple character is pretty unique and put it way ahead of Marin. Andy predicted that Kern would make the finals based on its performance in this round.Heat 11:Knee Deep (Lincoln), R1H11, $6.49/22oz, 7.5% ABV, 7.51 NSP, 1 (Brendan)Russian River Blind Pig (Santa Rosa), R2H3, $4.90/500mL, 6.1% ABV, 6.43 NSP, 4 (Andy, Brent, Matt, Samer)Another battle of maltiness versus light body, and a whale of a Round 3 matchup for Round 1 dominator Knee Deep. Brendan follows true to form by opting for the malty one. Both were excellent, though stylistically pretty different...they both deserved to go through, but such is the luck of the draw.Heat 12:Firestone Walker Union Jack (Paso Robles), R1H12, $10.99/6-pack, 7.5% ABV, 14.53 NSP, 3 (Andy, Matt, Samer)Hangar 24 Columbus (Redlands), R2H9, $4.85/22oz, 7.0% ABV, 9.38 NSP, 2 (Brendan, Brent)Much closer than anticipated based on the results of earlier rounds; Union Jack was better, but not by much. Samer, who identified Union Jack as Duet in round 1, wasn't impressed by the former at all this time around. But its citrus character put it ahead of Columbus, which was mostly just bitter.Summary of Round 3-Winners (advancing to Round 4):Stone*Port WipeoutBear Republic Racer 5*AlesmithSierra Nevada TorpedoGreen Flash West Coast*LagunitasAlpine DuetBallast Point Sculpin*Kern River Just Outstanding*Russian River Blind Pig*Firestone Walker Union JackLosers (eliminated)Speakeasy Big DaddyNectar AlesMad River Jamaica SunsetRubicon21st Amendment BFoDDrake'sCoronado IslanderBlack Diamond Jagged EdgeNorth Coast AcmeMarinKnee DeepHangar 24 ColumbusInterestingly, six of the winners in Round 3 came from Round 2 (marked with asterisks)- i.e. they upset a Round 1 winner. But look at the names advancing to Round 4- it's most of the heavyweights. Things are about to get nasty.